Former UCSD dean dies vacationing in Africa

Dr. Thomas McAfee, who served as dean of clinical affairs at UC San Diego Health Sciences, has died in an accident while vacationing in Africa.

McAfee was scheduled to take a new position Tuesday at the University of Southern California as CEO of the newly formed Keck Medicine of USC Medical Foundation.

McAfee, 58, died in Tanzania, Debra Kain, spokeswoman for UC San Diego Health Sciences said Sunday. She did not provide further details.

McAfee’s death was confirmed Saturday in an internal memorandum to UC San Diego Health Sciences faculty and staff.

“Dr. McAfee was adventurous in spirit, loved to visit new places and to meet new people,” read the joint statement from vice chancellor David Brenner, CEO Paul Viviano and Larry Friedman, interim dean of clinical affairs. “His death is a great loss–both to many of us personally, and to the field of health care which would have benefited enormously from his talent and dedication in coming years.”

McAfee had worked at UC San Diego Health Sciences since 2002, when he was appointed physician in chief, according to a news release. He previously had worked at UC San Francisco as an associate clinical professor of medicine.

“We are devastated by this news,” said Thomas Jackiewicz, senior vice president and CEO of USC Health, said in a statement. “Tom was a dear friend of mine and a respected colleague. His contributions to health care were numerous, and he was excited about the opportunity to begin a new chapter of his life and career helping us propel USC forward in its health-care growth. The world has lost a talented individual far too soon.”

Ashish K. Jha, a professor at Harvard School of Public Health, described McAfee as a "thoughtful, insightful man who was also caring and good-hearted." McAfee "was considered by many to be a wonderful mentor and an important clinical leader," Jha said. "His passing is a terrible loss for the medical community."